Cropping

WA harvest is in the bin, southern growers bank rain’s bounty

THE Western Australian 2017-18 harvest delivered stronger-than-forecast receivals, as spring rains turned around the privations of a dry winter.

CBH Group general manager operations, David Capper, said CBH had been expecting much lower volumes given the dry winter in WA.

“However, the good finishing rains that came in September and October pushed our total crop estimate almost 40 per cent higher than our estimates earlier in the season,” he said.

“The 2017-18 harvest was punctuated by frequent short periods of wet weather, which was frustrating for growers.

“In addition, a number of other factors including the significant increase in the crop estimate and very low harvest shipping tested our supply chain.”

The improved growing conditions had greatest impact in the southern port zones of Albany and Esperance, the latter achieving a record harvest; receivals in Esperance were 2.83 million tonnes (Mt) compared with 2.7Mt in 2016/17.

Albany zone also received more grain than the previous year; 3.23Mt compared with 3.1Mt.

Geraldton and Kwinana zones in the north adapted to a different set of conditions. Four sites in Geraldton zone received 80pc of zone tonnages. Harvest in Geraldton completed in around five weeks, half the typical time taken.